Klee Woolf Goldman & Filpi, LLPKlee Woolf Goldman & Filpi, LLP2026-06-29T08:54:06Zhttps://www.kleewoolflaw.com/feed/atom/WordPress/wp-content/uploads/sites/1504882/2026/01/cropped-KWGF-site-icon-1-32x32.pngOn Behalf of Klee Woolf Goldman & Filpi, LLP<![CDATA[Understanding repetitive stress injuries and carpal tunnel]]>https://www.kleewoolflaw.com/?p=483612026-06-29T08:54:06Z2026-06-29T08:51:58ZCompensation for common repetitive stress injuries
Workers' compensation isn't just for sudden accidents. Pain that developed from doing the same tasks every single day is covered, too.
These wear-and-tear injuries usually start as a minor ache but can slowly get bad enough to stop you from working. For example:
Carpal tunnel syndrome: This condition occurs when the median nerve in the wrist becomes compressed due to continuous typing, operating cash registers or using vibrating hand tools.
Tendinitis: This painful inflammation of the tendons frequently affects the elbows, shoulders or wrists of workers who perform forceful, repeated lifting or overhead motions.
Bursitis: This condition impacts the fluid-filled sacs that cushion the joints, often triggered by repetitive kneeling, bending or reaching while operating specialized machinery.
Trigger finger: This painful condition causes a finger or thumb to snap or lock when bent, common among workers who repeatedly grip tools or handle materials tightly.
Rotator cuff syndrome: This shoulder injury involves damage to the tendons from constant overhead reaching, heavy lifting or repetitive pushing and pulling.
Ignoring early warning signs like tingling, numbness or a dull ache can lead to permanent nerve damage. Other symptoms to watch out for include a sudden loss of grip strength, burning sensations, joint stiffness or visible swelling.
Seeking compensation after getting hurt at work
The most important part of getting workers’ compensation for a repetitive injury is proving that your job actually caused it. Because there is no single accident date to point to, insurance companies will often blame your pain on normal aging or your life outside of work. To secure your benefits, you need a clear medical diagnosis that explicitly links your physical symptoms directly to your daily tasks on the clock.]]>On Behalf of Klee Woolf Goldman & Filpi, LLP<![CDATA[SSDI benefits for invisible conditions and hidden disabilities]]>https://www.kleewoolflaw.com/?p=483282026-04-24T17:32:02Z2026-04-24T17:32:02ZThe challenges of claiming benefits for invisible illnesses
The Social Security Administration (SSA) maintains a strict "Blue Book" of qualifying impairments. However, many chronic conditions do not have a specific listing, requiring an evaluation under certain federal rulings:
Fibromyalgia: Under Social Security Ruling (SSR) 12-2p, the SSA recognizes fibromyalgia as a medically determinable impairment if it is documented by specific criteria, such as the exclusion of other disorders and a longitudinal record of widespread pain.
Chronic fatigue syndrome: Proving this condition requires meeting the evidentiary standards of SSR 14-1p, which demands medical signs or laboratory findings that establish a clinically determinable impairment.
Mental health conditions: Severe anxiety or depression are evaluated under 20 CFR § 404.1529, which dictates how the SSA assesses the intensity and persistence of symptoms that cannot be measured by traditional imaging.
Following the strict diagnostic criteria of SSR 12-2p and SSR 14-1p is what transforms a subjective diagnosis into a legally recognized disability.
The critical role of the RFC assessment
When a condition does not fit a specific listing, the SSA performs a Residual Functional Capacity (RFC) assessment. This evaluation determines the maximum work-related activity you can still perform despite your limitations.
Physical RFC: This measures your capacity to sit, stand, and lift. In cases of chronic pain, an accurate RFC must capture your inability to sustain these activities over an eight-hour workday.
Mental RFC: This assesses "cognitive stamina," including your ability to maintain concentration, follow instructions, and handle workplace stress, which are factors often diminished by "brain fog."
A well-documented RFC is the most powerful tool for translating "invisible" symptoms into concrete workplace limitations that the SSA can recognize.
Navigating the New York disability process
Securing benefits requires a strategy that goes beyond a simple diagnosis. In New York, Administrative Law Judges (ALJs) also consider "non-medical" evidence, which evaluates the consistency of your statements regarding your symptoms.
Longitudinal evidence: You must provide a comprehensive medical history that demonstrates how your symptoms impact you over time, rather than a single "snapshot" of your health.
Third-party statements: Evidence from family members or former supervisors can be vital in corroborating how your hidden disability affects your daily functioning.
In the New York appeals process, the consistency between your medical records and your daily limitations is the key to overcoming an initial denial based on a lack of objective evidence.
Taking the time to build a comprehensive case based on federal rulings is an essential step toward securing the financial support you deserve. Professional guidance ensures that your functional limitations are accurately translated into the technical language used by the SSA to grant benefits.]]>